Subaru is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Fuji Heavy Industries started out as The Aircraft Research Laboratory in 1917 headed by Chikuhei Nakajima. In 1932, the company was reorganized as Nakajima Aircraft Company, Ltd and soon became the primary manufacturer of aircraft for Japan during World War II. At the end of the Second World War Nakajima Aircraft was again reorganized, this time as Fuji Sangyo Co, Ltd. In 1946, the company created the Fuji Rabbit motor scooter with spare aircraft parts from the war.
Subaru is internationally known for their use of boxer engines in most of their vehicles. The company used all wheel drive in most international markets as standard equipment in 1996. Subaru also offer many turbocharged versions of their passenger cars, such as the Impreza WRX which is well-known in motorsports, such as rally racing.
Subaru has used advanced techniques for recycling, reducing harmful emissions, educating their employees, and continuing their efforts have helped them in their environmental friendly initiatives. The Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana (SIA) was the first auto assembly plant to achieve zero landfill status - nothing from its manufacturing efforts goes into a landfill. The company has also developed energy efficient hybrid vehicles as well as a recycling plan for their "end-of-life" cars. Most of their modern products use aluminium throughout the vehicle, in the engine, transmission, suspension and elsewhere in each vehicle that can be recycled when the vehicle is no longer serviceable. The Subaru version was initially branded as an Impreza coupe, with the power train being described as RWD with the 2.0 liter boxer engine, and optional 2.5 turbo from the WRX STi and AWD. Spy photos of a prototype testing mule were taken in the UK heavily disguised using Legacy bodywork on a shortened frame.

1970 - Subaru moved away from small commercial vehicles and concentrated on the development of mainstream passenger car models with the Subaru Leone, and when Subaru continued in their endeavours, and introduced the Legacy in 1989, it was a sales success for the company.
1985 - Subaru decided to offer more products due to the Plaza Accord agreement, which made the value of the yen stronger in exchange rates to the dollar, which had an effect on Subaru sales in the USA. The creation of the Legacy was influenced by Subaru's desire to compete with successful Japanese carmakers Toyota, Nissan and Honda, and the Legacy was targeted against the Camry, Stanza, and Accord. The Legacy was considered mainstream in its appearance and a departure from previous vehicles, which had earned a reputation of being "quirky". It was perceived by some as Subaru's attempt to compete with new luxury brands Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, as Japanese vehicles were increasing in popularity, particularly in the USA.
1992 - Subaru continued their new direction with the controversially styled six-cylinder SVX, and the Impreza.